How many people have been turned down for disability?

I applied for disability four times for severe back, neck, and problems walking. I went back to work which was so painfull until 2002. By then I had so many more medical conditions I went from dr. to dr. My ss annual report said I was eligble for 610.00 month. Well it took me 2 years to get diagnosed. I have fibro, back, neck that is to bad to operate on, a bone disease called madelung's bone deformity( this disease is so debilitating I can use my hands, arms sparinly. It is also in my feet and legs. Now I also have a myositis which in turn the dr's say maybe 6 months before I will never walk again.The list of my ailments gets longer every couple months. Contacted 3 lawyers and they all say the same thing. I am married and my husband has income coming in so I am not elligable for any type of disability. He is disabled and has dementia. Well lawyers say if I get a divorce I could collect 300 month. Ya like I can go without my medical. These law or rules are a joke.Well now ss says I need another 30+ credits, I had 30 so I am really out of luck!! I paid in for many years but I'll never see a dime, because I won't live long enough to .I take very few pain pills as I'm allergic to just about everything, even Vitimins, I'm never out of pain and I go to pain mangement. They can't manage my pain because any pain med that could get me out of pain I am allergic to them.

Responses (2)

IN

Inactive4 Oct 2011

Welcome to the site first of all Redrobin55. (Love your name) When you applied for SSD was your husband on it then? Actually it should not matter, what I really want to know is were you reapplying from the start or were you turned down & appealing it? It can take up to 2 years to get SSD.Usually unless you are dieing it takes that long. You have to be patient. My son needs to be on it, but has not patience to wait it out, so he has to start over each time. It's a long grueling process I know because I've been there.My husband is on it too. Even if you don't have the credits you would qualify for SSI which pays about the same, & you would get Medicaid for your medical. If you have worked you are entitiled to some compensation if you are truly disabled, which it sounds like you are. Now the Medicaid can be held back because of your husbands income. Is this his only income SSD? It surely can't be that much. I know when I first applied I wasn't married, & stayed that way until I was approved just to get the benefiits! That is ridiculous, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I wish you the best, & am friending you so you can ask a private question if you so wish. Goodf luck & hang in there...

I have been trying for over a year. Turned down the first time and got a rep working on it now. I have not heard anything in mos, says it may take up to 18mos to hear something. But told me I still can't get medicaid because of the SS my husband. Great, all my samples are about to run out and one med is 116.00 per mo. Von

Hi, The first 3 times I applied my husband was still working. He bacame disabled on the job. ( he worked at gm) they in turn retired him because he lost his eye and his legs were shot.) Then after my job was no longer I was in such bad shape I went from dr to dr trying to get results on what was wrong with me. It took two years to get all the diagnoses, so I sent in all my records to ss. They sent them right back to me with no exspenation so I called them. They said I missed the 2 year deadline by one month so I needed to go back to work to get 20 more credits which would take five years. I have contacted so many lawyers it's a joke. They all tell me the same thing You are caught between a rock and and a hard spot.I can't work, and because my husband gets ssd and his 1/2 pension I am not eligyble. I can't beleive that I am punishedI live in MI. because my husband has an income.

I spent many a years working so that should have nothing to do with me getting ssd.So all in all I applied 4 times, had a lawyer go to hearing and was turned down and have talked to 3 more ssd lawyers and they all say the same thing.With all of my medical problems I need my insurance and can't afford to divorce to get only 305.00 per month. It cost more than that for our meds. Plus trying to take care of my husband who has demetia.Life is not always fair to those who don't abuse the system but can't get any help. I don't want to lose my house and thats what it's coming to. What a shame , since I have always worked when I could. Thanks for writing me. Much A ppreciation.

IN

Inactive4 Oct 2011

RedRobin, gee girl you have me stumped! My husband was on SSD when I was applying, but only received a small amount from his employer. Enough to cover his medicare payment & a couple hundred more. His SS was figured differently than mine also which really pissed me off. When I first applied I was in Arizona & was told how much my check would be too. We moved to Illinois & the SS changed the rules about how they figured the amount you get. Mine was figured from all my wages from the first day I worked at 16 years old! The minimum wage then was $1.65. They figured an average from all my wages. Now they have gone back to the old way of the highest last 5 years, or it seems it has changed again to what you are saying. First of all what gives them the right to change the rules whenever they please? Makes me mad too. I should be getting twice what I do with the wages I made prior to being disabled.

I worked14 years being disabled with my back to raise my kids because they(ss) said I could work 5 hours a day. Right! Pay your bills working 5 hours a day or get someone to hire you for 5 hours a day. I told you I didn't marry mu husband (lived in sin, ha!)for 4 years until I was approved. We both receive SSD & have all along. I lost the SSI that suplemented my income ($31 & some food stamps), but that was ok. I hate to say it, and I am the first person to say I am an honest person, but I think maybe you should get a divorce if it's a matter of keeping your house! It's just a piece of paper after all. If you are disabled they would have to give you SSI, & that is more than $300 a month. It has to equal the bare minimum of SSD which I believe is closer to $700 now. It's like $676 or something like that. I have my medicare premium taken out & without digging thru papers can't give you the exact amount.My borther gets it in Arizona, & he is alone., but medicaid pays his medicare premium, plus the difference of what ss doesn't pay to the bare minimum of what they should pay. What I'm saying is he gets 2 checks. One from SSD & 1 from SSI, plus medical & food stamps. It sounds like you need the medical really bad. Don't give up the fight. Talk to your husband & see how he would feel about a divorce to get you started. If the 55 is your age you only have 10 or is it 12 years til you automatically get SS anyway.I know you don't want this , but you may not have an alternative. I wish you all the best...

Welcome Redrobin55... You have a lot of issues to deal with here as you explain. I don't know where to begin, but I will try and add my education into SSDI. My experience had been that I was working but prior to that, I had not worked in about two years which hurt my SSDI income, so the credits make a difference because they base this on your continued years of income. The next issue I had was that I had to be diagnosed by a doctor for neuropathy of the legs. That took many a doctor and many a test. I eventually went on state disability while I was also being diagnosed from other doctors for pain issues. After one year, I applied to SSDI and I had a lawyer handle my case since it had been documented that I had Neuropathy and now diagnosed with Degenerative Joint/Disk disease but this medical information did not come out until three years of doctors and treatments that were not working. Surgeons were afraid to touch me. (they were not competent to make a sensible intelligent decision) so more doctors and more documentation. The more you have documentation the better for your case. Keep a list of the medications you have taken over the years, who it was prescribed by and for what condition. This will help. Get documentation from as many doctors, specialists and any procedures, tests, and surgeries or anything medical that has been done over the years before you see the SSDI doctor recommended by Medicare/Medical. If they deny your claim, ask to appeal the Medicare/Medical decision in front of a judge (not a commissioner) Show just cause and explain why you cannot work and that you need ASSISTANCE in your daily life and do not be shy about this. The more you tell, the more weighs in your favor. Emphasize that you need ASSISTANCE in you QUALITY OF LIFE. VERY IMPORTANT WORD... QUALITY OF LIFE! Use that phrase a lot! Your condition is deteriorating because of the QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE! (your mental status if fine, do not emphasize any mental status changes). All this should help but the rest is a little out of my league. I hope this helps and good luck to you but please keep us informed.